Method of and machine for rolling beads in annular articles



March 27, 1934. c. c. GROTNES METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR ROLLING BEADS IN ANNULAR ARTICLES 3 sheqts sheet l Filed July 30, 1930 jiwgw- @WZ (T Grafflwf,

March 27, 1934. 1,952,857

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR ROLLING BEADS iN NULAR ARTICLES c. c. GROTNES Filed July so, 1950 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27,1934. c. c. GROTNES METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR ROLLING BEADS IN ANNULAR ARTICLES s SheetS -Sheet 5 Filed July 30, 1950 Patented Mar. 27, 1934 v r PATENT OFFICE METHOD or AND MACHINE FOR nonmNG BEADS m ANNULAR narrows Carl C. Grotnes,lark Ridge, Ill. Application July 30,1930, Serial No. 411,652

i 36 Claims.

.ly beyond all side plugs and end seams to pre'- vent rupturing of the seams and otherjoints when the barrel is rolled on its side. The beads are usually spaced equally from the center line of the barrel, and to permit these beads to run in parallel tracks which are often provided on conveyors, it

- is essential that the two beads on each barrel be parallel and accurately spaced and also that the beads on all of the barrels be the same distance apart. 4

Prior machines and methods of forming such '20 beads in barrels have required the formation of 'J the beads one at a time with an intermediate manual shifting of the barrel which wasted time and thereby increased the cost of the barrels. It also resulted in variations in the distance between the beads and trouble was therefore experienced when the barrels were handled on conveyor tracks as above discussed.

Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method of and machine for simultaneously rolling two such beads by which accurate positioning of'the beads may invariably be obtained.

Another object is to provide a bead rolling machine embodying new and improved means op- 'erab1e to guide and position the work accurately with respect to the forming rolls during the entire rolling operation, whereby to prevent shearing or undue stretching of the metal and insure proper location and uniformity in the formation 40 of the beads. v

Another object is to provide a machine of this character which is particularly adapted for straight line production methods and arranged to facilitate the discharge of the finished work from the machine. 7

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingain which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a ma chine embodyingthe invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the cam for actuating the outer rolls.

Fig. 4 is a development of one of the cams for imparting endwise movement to the inner rolls.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the left hand end of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan section taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 6 showing the form of one of the uide shoes.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken ap- 6 proximately along the line 66 of Fig. 1. I Fig. 6 is a fragmental plan section taken along the line d -6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental front view showing the rolls and other parts in their retracted positions ready for the introduction of a piece of work into the machine.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the parts in their operative positions.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmental verticalsection of the rolls showing their positions after the commencement of the rolling opera tiorr and before endwise approaching movement of the rolls has started.

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the positions of the rolls after the beads have been completed.

While-my invention is susceptible of embodi ment in many different forms, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail one such embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosureis to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Generally considered, the machine herein illustrated comprises two pairs of continuously driven, complementary forming rolls, two of the rollsbeing adapted to be positioned within an annular article to cooperate with the other or outer rolls to form annular beads on the article. To permit an article such as a barrel to be placed in position in the machine, the two inner rolls are moved endwise away from each other into outof-the-way positions, and after the barrel is" in place the inner rolls are again'moved longitudinally toward each other an into the barrel until their positions correspond with the normal positions of the outer rolls. When the barrel is in this position in the machine it rests upon suitable guide rollers which move transversely with the outer rolls in the bead forming operation.

After the barrel isin position and the inner rolls have been moved into the barrel, the outer rolls while both sets of rolls are maintained in the same longitudinal positions. This movement is continued until shallow beads, say one-fourth of an inch deep, are formed entirely about the periphery'of the barrel. Prior to and during this operation the barrel is accurately positioned in a longitudinal direction, and is held against transthe barrel due to shortening thereof, and insuresproper positioning of the barrel throughout the entire operation.

The outer rolls are then retracted transversely, after which the inner rolls and the guide shoes are rapidly retracted longitudinally to their outof-the-way positions to permit transverse removal of the finished barrel from themachine. During the actual work performing operation, the movements of all of the parts are accurately controlled and the position of the barrel accurately and positively determined with the result that substantially duplicate work is produced.

Considering now the machine in detail, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, it comprises an elongated base 10 at the opposite ends of which are mounted a pair of upstanding end frames 11. Each end frame 11 preferably consists of two upright standards 12, secured to the base 10 in spaced relation longitudinally thereof, and

connected to each other by a flat cap 13, secured to the upper ends of the standards 12.

Centrally of the machine in the space between the two end frames 11, two pairs of forming rolls 14 and 15 are rotatably mounted on horizontal axes, the corresponding rolls of each pair being coaxial. The rolls 14 are adapted to engage the inner surface of a barrel 16 while the rolls 15 are located directly beneath the rolls 14 and are adapted to engage the outer surface of the barrel to cooperate with the rolls 14 in the formation of outwardly projecting annular beads 16 .on the barrel. L

To form the beads 16 in the barrel, the inner rolls 14 each have an annular rib 14 (Fig. 2)

adapted to press the metal of the barrel into annular recesses 15*- formed in the outer rolls 15.

To permit the barrel 16 to be moved transversely into operative position in the machine, the upper or inner rolls 14 are mounted for longitudinal movement toward and away from each other. To this end the inner rolls 14 are mounted one on each of the end frames 11 by means of heads 17 which are slidably mounted for movement longitudinally of the machine in ways 18 (Figs. 5 and 6), formed in the caps 13 of the end frames. To support the rolls 14 rotatably in the heads 1'7, a shaft 19 is rotatably mounted inv each head parallel to the ways 18 and one of the rolls 14 is secured on the projecting end of each shaft 19. The range 'of movement of each head 1'7 is such that the rolls 14 may be moved from their operative positions adjacent each other (Figs. 1 and 8) to their inoperative or out-of-the-way positions, shown in Fig. '7, and when the rolls the projecting ends of the shaft 21.

7 1,952,857 rolls are moved transversely toward the inner are in their inoperative positions a barrel 16 may easily be moved laterally into position in abutment with the outer rolls '15.

In the present instance the outer rolls 15 are mounted for limited transverse movement toward and from the inner rolls 14 to effect the desired rolling and forming action upon the barrel. The preferred mounting for the outer rolls 14 is best shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and comprises a rockable arm or frame 20, pivoted on a horizontal shaft 21 which extends throughout the entire length of the machine along the rear side thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The shaft 21 is journaled in the two standards 12 of each end frame and between the two end frames it is provided with additional support by two spaced standards 22 fixed on the base 10 (Figs. 1 and 6).

Spaced from the shaft 21 and mounted in the rocking frame 20,'is a rotatable roll shaft 23 upon which two sleeves 24 (Fig. 9) are slidably keyed to receive the outer rolls 15 and permit limited longitudinal movement ofthe rolls toward and away from each other.

All of the rolls 14 and 15 are driven continuously during the operation, from a power source such as a motor 25 (Fig. 5), mounted on a bracket 26 on the rear side of one of the end frames 11. For this purpose a small pinion 27 on the motor shaft engages a large gear 28 fixed on a drive shaft 29, Figs. 1 and 5, which is mounted in the adjacent end frame 11 parallel to the roll shaft 23. At its inner or right end, which projects through the inner standard 12 (Fig. 1), the drive shaft 29 carries a gear 30, meshing with a gear 31 fixed on the shaft 21 which constitutes the pivotal axis about which the rocking frame 20is moved. Thus, a. gear 32 fixed on the roll shaft 23 and meshing with the gear 33 will drive the outer rolls 15 continuously during transverse movement of these rolls.

To drive the inner rolls 14 continuously in the opposite direction, the shaft 21 has gears 33 and 33 thereon, one within each of the end frames 11 (Figs. 1 and 6) and each of these gears 33 mesheswith a gear 36, one of which is mounted on each of two coaxial countershafts 35. The countershafts 35 are rotatably mounted one in each of the end frames 11 parallel to and above Each roll shaft 19 is driven continuously from its countershaft 35, even during endwise movement of the roll shaft, by means of a plurality of similar gears 36 (Fig. I) mounted on each of the countershafts 35 and spaced so that during endwise movement of the roll shaft 19, a gear 37 (Fig. 1), fixed on the roll shaft, will always engage with at least one of the gears 36. y

In the present machine an automatic cycle of operation is obtained through the provision of means for ca using the various transverse and longitudinal movements of the rolls in timed relation to each other. This means is preferably driven from the motor 25 through a pinion 48 (Fig. 1) fixed on the drive shaft 29 which continuously drivesagear 50' loosely mounted on a clutch shaft 51 mounted in the adjacent end frame 11.

A clutch 52 (Figs. 1 and 5) on the shaft 51 may be moved longitudinally of the shaft 51 to cause the shaft 51 to rotate, and this rotary movement is transmitted to a cam shaft 53 through reduction gears v54, 55, 56, and 57, the first and last ones of ing end of the rocking frame.

of imparting transverse movement to theouter rolls has a cam 60 fixed thereon beneath therockingframe and arranged to engage a cam roller 61 -(Figs..1, 3 and 6) on the outer or swing- By proper formation and proportioning of the cam 60, the, outer rolls 15 may be given any desired transverse movement, and this movement is coordinated with the endwise movement of the inner rolls 14 10 by means ofa pair of cylindrical cams 62 (Fig. 1)

fixed on opposite ends of the cam shaft 53 and operating through suitable connections for transmitting movement from the cams 62 to the two roll-carrying heads 17.-' In the present case 16 these connections each comprise a slide 63 (Fig.

connected to the adjacent head 17 through an L adjustable link 69 which permits the operative position of the rolls to be adjusted longitudinally to provide for different spacing of the beads 16. In practice the barrels 16 to be rolled are fed into the machine over an inclined runway. 70

' leading to the rear side of the machineifl ig. 6) which has guides 71 adjustably fixed on the prisesa bracket '14 (Figs. 5' and 6) on the shoe extending downwardly over a lug 75' on the bar so -as to permit relative transverse movement of the shoe and the bar when the swinging frame 20 is moved. r

As the inner rolls 14 are advanced from their inoperative positions (Fig. 7) to their operative positions within the barrel, (Fig. 8) a lug 'I'I'flxed on each ofthe bars 75 (Fig. 6) is enga ed by one side of the gear 3'1 on the adjacent roll shaft 19 and the guide shoes 74 are moved with the innerrolls 14 and into contact with the end edges of the barrel.

'The guide shoes 74 are also utilized to prevent upward displacement of the barrel away from the adjacent guide rol'ers 72; This is accomplished by forming an arcuate rib 78 (Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8) on-eachguide shoe 74 arranged in the endwise' movement of the shoes to be projected into the ends of the barrel. It will be noted that with the rolls and the barrel rotating in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6, the .guide shoes '74 engage the barrel at the feedingin side of the rolls and henceproper positioning of the work is insured- The reatiye timing of the various roll movements during an operating, cycle may beclearly seen by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. When both the inner and outer rolls are retracted to their inoperative positions as shown-in Fig. "7, the cam rollers 61 and 64 are positioned at A and A respectively and the machine is in condition machine frame (Figs- 1, 6, and along its to receive a new piece of work. Upon introducto engage the ends of the barrel and pos'ti'on them in approximately the desired location longitudinally of the machine. When the inner'rolls 14 have been withdrawn to their inoperative positions, the barrel 16 which has been finished is moved transversely out of the machine, (to

40 the right in Fig. 6) and the next barrel16 moves down the runway '70 onto the lower or outer rolls 15. The transverse position of the barrel thus placed in the machine is determined by a plurality of guide rollers 72 (Figs. 1, 6, 7, and 8) located on both sides of the axis of the lower rolls 15 and slightly above the upper surfaces thereof. The guide rollers 72 are preferably car'- ried by plates '72 mounted on the swinging frame 20 for adjustment toward and away from each other as shown in Fig. 6, to provide for operation of the machine upon barrels of different diameters.

Before the actual rolling operation is started, the barrel is preferably positioned accurately in a longitudinal direction'and in the present case this is accomplished by means operating automatically .as an incident to the movement of the rolls. -To'this end two guide shoes 74 (Figs. 1,

5 6, 7, and 8) are mounted on the opposite ends 7 '36 of theswingir'fg frame 20 adjacent to the forward or swinging edge thereof (Fig. 6) for limted movement toward and away from each other parallelto the axes of the forming rolls. Each guide shoe '74 is in the form of a block, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and is guided in its longitudinal movement bya short shaft '73 mounted onthe 1 adjustable plate 72 'Each shoe '74 has a bar 75 connected thereto which is slidaby mounted in the adjacent end frame 11 parallel to the path 76 of movement of the gu de shoes,.and the shoes are normally urged away from each other and toward the inoperative positions shown in Fig. 7 by means of contractile springs '76 acting between the bars '75 and the end frames 11. The con- .5 nection between each bar 75 and its shoe '74 commachine frame. This causes rotation of the cams 60 and 62 in the direction indicated by the arrows (Figs. 3 and 4) and the cam rollers 61- and 64 move (in effect) from positions A, A to positions B, B whereby to move the inner rolls 14 endwise into the barrel at a rapid traverse rate and also advance the outer rolls 15 transversely until the barrel is closely adjacent to the inner rolls 14. During this period the guide shoes .74 engage the ends of the barrel and move it to an accurately determined position endwise of the rolls.

In the following portion of the cam movement, the inner rolls 14 are held in fixed longitudinal positions by a dwell section B C on the cam 62 while the outer rolls are moved transversely to the relation showri in Fig. 9"by an advancing surface B, C on the cam 60. During this portion of the cycle; the ribs 14= of the inner rollers act to form shallow beads in the barrel as shown in Fig. 9. The extent of the cam'surfaces B, C and B, C' is suflicient'to permit the shallow beads to be formed entirely around the periphery of the barrel.. Prior to the engagement of the barrel with" theinner rolls and also while the shallow beads are being formed. the arcuate ribs 78 on guide shoes '74 engage the inner .surface of the barrel and cooperate with the endwise action of the shoes '74, and with the guide rollers 72 to maintain the barrel in proper position and prevent the formation of spiral grooves in the barrel. It has been found that such shallow beads, say five-sixteenths of an inch deep, do not produce appreciable shortening of the barrel, but when'the depth of the beads becomes greater, the length of the barrel is reduced materially.

To prevent shearing of the barrel or excessive thinning of the metal when it is shortened by the rolling action, the two pairs of complemental rolls are moved gradually towardeach other in an endwise direction after the shallow beads have been formed as above described. Accordingly the cams 62 have leading surfaces C, D which move the inner rolls 14 gradually toward each other as the outer rolls are advanced toward the inner rolls by the leading cam surfaces C, D on the cam 60. I I

As previously pointed out, the outer rolls 15 are mounted on the rollshaft 23 by sleeves 24 so as to permit limited longitudinal movement. Each outer roll 15 is normally urged toward the adjacent end of the machine by a yoke 85 (Fig. 2)

engaging the sleeve 24 and connected to a link 86 which is pulled longitudinally by a spring 87, acting between the link and a part of the swinging frame 20. To move the outer rolls 15 in an endwise direction simultaneously with the inner rolls 14 during thelatter part of the actual beadforming operation, each head 17 is provided with a bracket 89 (Fig. 2) which carries an adjustable screw 90 arranged to engage a lug 91 on the link 86.

Thus the formation of the beads 16 is completed and the metal is set and the form of the beads preserved by providing dwell surfaces D, E and D, E on the cams 60 and 62 respectively to maintain the rolls in their adjacent operative relation shown in Fig. 10 for a short time after completion of the beads.

After the roller 61 passes from the dwell D, E onto the surface E, F of the .cam 60, the outer rolls 15 are lowered so that. the beads 16 are moved clear of the ribs 14 of the inner rolls, and during this period the outer rolls are held against longitudinal movement by dwell surfaces E, F

' on the cams 62. As soon as the outer rolls have been lowered sufliciently, the retracting cam surfaces F, A of the cams 62 cause the inner rolls 14 to be withdrawn rapidly from the barrel to their initial inoperative positions.

The forward guide rollers '72 are then in their lowered positions so that the removal from the forward (or right hand side, Fig. 6) is facilitated and the machine is adapted for the so called straight line system of production. a

After the operation has been completed, as above described, the clutch 52 is automatically disengaged by means of any preferred character. In the present instance this means comprises a dog 93 on one of the cams 62 (the right hand one in Fig. 1) which moves one of the clutch levers 80. through a horizontal lever 94 lying in the path of the dog.

In forming the beads, there is a tendency of the metal to warp or how out in a reverse or S-shaped curve. Thus, considering each bead as forming a part of the S-shape, the portions of metal on eachside of each bead will tend to bow outwardly. When this bowing is not permitted numerous small wrinkles appear in the metal. To prevent such wrinkling, the rolls are so shaped as to permit the metal to follow its natural tendency to bow. As shown in the drawings, the outer rolls 15 are tapered as shown at 95 in Figs. 9 and 10 on each side of the grooves 15* to provide space into which the metal may bow.

A sheet metal barrel of the'type to be rolled in this machine has a longitudinal welded seam which is often thicker than the metal sheet. To provide clearance for this ,seam in passing through the rolls, the annular grooves 15 in the outer rolls 15 are made quite deep as shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, when such a seam passes between the rolls 14 and 15, there is a tendency to the sides of the runway 70.

spread the rolls apart slightly. To permit such spreading of the rolls a rubber pad 96 (Fig. 6) maybe positioned between the cam roller 61 and the swinging frame so that the rolls 15 yield slightly when the seam passes between the rolls.

;When such a pad is used the roller 61 is mounted for limited transverse sliding movement on the frame 20. After the seam has passed, the rubber pad 96 causes the rolls 15 to move back to their normal positions. I

In the operation of the machine, the motor is started so that the rolls 14 and 15 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6. With the clutch 52 disengaged, the inner rolls 14 and guide shoes 74 retracted, and the outer rolls 15 loweredas shown in Fig. 7, a barrel 16 is rolled from the runway (Fig. 6) onto the outer rolls 15 and the guide rollers 72. In such movement the barrel is positioned in approximately the desired longitudinal position by guides '71 along Rotation of the barrel 16 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6 starts as soon as it strikes the rotating lower rolls 15.

The clutch 52 may then be engaged by one of the levers to start rotation of the cam shaft 53 and thereby cause the rolls and the guide shoes to move through the desired cycle to form beads 16 on the barrel. During thefirst part of the cam movement the two cams 62, through slides 63, levers 6'7 and links 66 and 69, cause rapid longitudinal movement of the inner rolls 14 toward each other and into the operative positions shown in Fig. 8 within the barrel 16. Simultaneously a rapid approaching movement is imparted to the outer rolls 15 by the cam 60 which acts on the swinging frame 20 (Fig. 6). During the upward swinging movement of the frame 20, the guide rollers 72, of course, raise the rotating barrel 16 and at the conclusion of the rapid approaching movement, the barrel is positioned closely adjacent to the annular ribs 14 on the inner rolls 14.

As the inner rolls 14 are completing their rapid approaching movement, as above described, the gears 3'7 on the roll shafts 19 engage lugs '77 on the bars '75 and slide the guide shoes 74 longitudinally toward each other on the frame 20 until the shoes engage the end edges of the barrel and the arcuate ribs '78 extend into the ends of the barrel and engage the inner surface thereof. Thus, prior to engagement of the inner rolls 14 with the barrel, it is moved accurately to the desired longitudinal position and is held down against the outer rolls 15 and the guide rollers 72. 1 During the last part of the rapid approach movement of the inner rolls 14, the adjustable bolts (Fig. 2) carried by the sliding heads 17 engage the lugs 91 on the sliding links 86 and move the outer'rolls 15 with the inner rolls 14 and in corresponding longitudinal relation with each other.

At the conclusion of the rapid approaching movement of the inner and outer rolls, the guide shoes 74 have been moved into their operative positions so that the barrel is accurately positioned. The longitudinal movement of the inner and outer rolls and the guide shoes is then stopped for a short time, while the outer rolls 15 are advanced slowly in a transverse direction to form shallow beads in the barrel as shown in Fig. 9. During ,the formation of these shallow beads, the guide shoes 74 with their arcuate ribs 78, cooperate with the guide rollers 72 to insure accurate positioning of the beads in the planes parallel to the axis of the barrel. 4

This is true since the guide shoes 74 move transversely with the grooved outer rolls 15 and the guide rollers 72. Another element which enters into and causes the continuous coopera-- tion of the guide shoes '74 with the other parts, is the fact that during the formation of such shallow/beads, the barrel is not shortened to any noticeable extent.

After the shallow beads have been formed entirely about the periphery of the barrel, as above described, the transverse movement of the outer rolls 15 is continued and both the inner'and outer rolls are moved gradually toward each other in an endwise direction in timed relation to the transverse movement of the rolls so that the barrel may become shorter without shearing the stock and without a tendency to stretch the metal unduly. During the completion of the beads, the guide shoes '74 move endwise toward each other and are maintained in contact with r the ends of the barrel as well as with the inner surface thereof and the barrel is, therefore, guided and positioned accurately during the entire rolling operation.

As the formation of the beads is completed,

- the endwise taper 95 provided on the outer rolls 15 permits the metal between the beads to bend in a natural manner and avoids wrinkling of the stock.

After the rolls have been maintained in their final transverse positions for a short time to set the metal in the desired form, the outer rolls are retracted to move the barrel downwardly and out of contact with the annular ribs 14. on the inner rolls. Since the guide shoes 74 are maintained in the same endwise positions during this period, the ribs 78 thereof engage the inner surface of the finished work and insure the desired separation of the work from the inner rolls 14.

The inner rolls 14 and the guide shoes '74 are then retracted with a rapid movement to their inoperative positions (Fig. '7), after which the trip device 93, 94 disengages the clutch 52 and stops the cam shaft. The finished work may then be moved transversely out of the machine,

to the right in Fig. 6 and the operation repeated on a new piece of work. The removal of the work is facilitated by the lowering of the guide rollers '72 on the forward or discharge side of the machine.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the Q invention provides a new and improved method of and machine for rolling beads in annular filed September 11, 1929, which application has.

now become abandoned.

I claim as my invention: 1. A bead rolling machine for simultaneously rolling a pair of beads in an annular sheet-metal object comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of coaxial outer rolls rotatably mounted in said frame, a pair of coaxial 'compleme'ntal inner rolls rotatably mounted in said frame,'means formoving said inner rolls toward each other first with a quick movement into a rolling position withinthe object and' then with a slower movement while the bead is being formed to prevent the metal between the beads being drawn out excessively in forming the beads, means for moving said outer rolls transversely toward said inner rolls first with a-quick movement into a rolling position and then with a slower movement while the bead is being formed, said outer rolls having a limited axial movement during rolling, \to permit thecomplemental rolls to be alined and moved together axially during the rolling operation, spring means opposing the movement of said outer rolls toward each other, and means for rotating said rolls continuously.

2. A bead rolling machine for simultaneously rolling. a pair of outwardly projecting beads in an annular sheet-metal object comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of coaxial inner rolls rotatably mounted in said frame, each of said rolls having an annular rib whose contour corresponds to the inside of the head to be formed, means for moving said first pair of rolls toward each other into a rolling position within the object, a pair of coaxial outer rolls rotatably mounted in said frame, each of said outer rolls having an annulargroove providing clearance for the annular rib of one of the irmer rolls and the metal of the bead and having'tapered portions on each side of the groove to accommodate the natural bowing of the metal, means for moving said outer rolls transversely toward said first pair, and means for rotating said rolls continuously.

3. A head rolling machine for simultaneously rolling a pairof beads in an annular sheet-metal object comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of coaxial shafts mounted for rotation in said frame, a pair of inner rolls mounted one on each shaft at the adjacent ends thereof, means for moving said shafts toward each other to move the rolls into an operating position within the object, a third shaft rotatably mounted in said frame parallel to said pair of shafts, a pair of outer rolls mounted on said third'shaft, means for moving said third shaft transversely toward said pair of shafts to move said outer rolls into an operating position, and means for driving all of said shafts continuously.

4. A bead rolling machine for simultaneously rolling a pair of beads in an annular sheetmetal object comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of alined heads movably mounted in said frame, a pair of coaxial shafts rotatably mounted one in each head, a first pair of rolls mounted one on each shaft at the adjacent ends thereof, means for moving said heads toward each other to bring the rolls into an. operating position within the object, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said frame, a third shaft rotatably mounted on said arm parallel to said pair of shafts, a second pair of rolls mounted on said third shaft, means for moving said arm about its pivot to bring said second pair of rolls into an operating position adjacent said first pair, and means for driving all of said shafts continuously.

5. A bead rolling machine for simultaneously rolling a pairof beads in an annular sheet-metal object comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of alined heads movably mounted in said frame, a pair of coaxial shafts rotatably mounted one in each head, a first pair of rolls mounted connecting said pair of shafts with said driving mechanism in all positions of the'heads, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said frame, a third shaft rotatably mounted on said arm parallel to said pair of shafts, a second pair of rolls in unted 10 on said third shaft, means for moving said arm about its pivot to bring said second pair of rolls into an operating position adjacent said first pair of rolls, and gearing connecting said third shaft with said driving mechanism in all positions of l the rocker arm.

6. A head rolling machine for simultaneously rolling a pair of beads in an annular sheet-metal object comprising, in combination, a frame, a

pair of alined heads movably mounted in said 2 frame, a/pair of coaxial shafts rotatably mounted one in each head, a first pair of rolls mounted one on each shaft at the adjacent ends thereof,

' a rocker arm pivotally mounted on said frame,

a third shaft rotatably mounted on said rocker arm parallel to said pair of shafts, a second pair of rolls mounted on said third shaft, a cam shaft mounted insaid frame, a pair of cams mounted on said cam shaft, a; pair of levers pivoted on said frame, each actuated by one of said cams and attached to one of said heads to move said first pair of rolls into an operating position within the object, a third cam mounted on said cam shaft for moving said rocker arm to bring said second pair of rolls into an operating position adjacent said first pair of rolls, and means for driving all of said shafts.

Z. A bead rolling machine for simultaneously .rolling a pair of beads in an annular sheet-metal object comprising, in combination, a frame, a first pair of coaxial rolls rotatably mounted in said frame, a shaft mounted in said frame, a pair of cams mounted on said shaft for moving said first pair of rolls toward each other into an operating position within the object, a second pair of coaxial rollsrotatably mounted in said frame, a third cam mounted on said shaft for moving said second pair of rolls toward said first pair, driving mechanism for driving said rolls and said shaft, and a clutch interposed between said driving mechanism and said shaft for controlling the motion of the latter.

8. A bead rolling machine for simultaneously rolling a pair of beads in an annular sheet-metal object comprising, in combinaiton, a frame, a pair of horizontal coaxial shafts rotatably mounted in said frame, a first pair of rolls car- 'ried on the adjacentends of said shafts respectively, means for moving said shafts toward each other 'to bring the rolls in an operative position within the object, a third horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in said frame below and parallel to said pair of shafts, a second pair of rolls carried by said third shaft, means for moving said third shaft toward said pair of shafts to bring said second pair of rolls in an operating position adjacent to and below said first pair of rolls, and guide rolls mounted on said frame parallel to and on each side of said pairs of rolls for supporting the object while the'beads are being rolled.

9. A machine of the character described comprising a pair of coaxial inner rolls, a pair of coaxial outer rolls, means supporting said inner rolls for longitudinal movement toward and away from each other, means supporting said outer rolls for movement transversely toward and away from said inner rolls, means for driving said rolls, and means for'moving the supporting means of tltifi inner and outer rolls in timed relation to each 0 er.

10. A machine of the character described comprising a pair of inner rolls adapted to be positioned in coaxial relation within an annular object, means supporting said rolls for movement away from each other and out of the ends of such an annular object, a pair of coaxial outer rolls adapted to cooperate with said inner rolls to shape an annular object, means supporting said outer rolls for transverse movement toward and away from said inner rolls to apply force to an object positioned therebetween, and means for rotating said rolls.

11. A machine for rolling parallel beads in an: nular articles, said machine comprising a pair of inner rolls mounted for movement from coaxial operative positions adjacent each other to inoperative positions spaced a considerable distance from each other, said rolls being capable of limited endwise movement when in their operative positions, a pair of coaxial outer rolls having limited axial movement and adapted for cooperation with said inner rolls when said inner rolls are in their operative positions, means supporting said outer rolls for transverse movement toward and away from said inner rolls, means operable to move said inner and outer rolls, and means for rotating said rolls.

12. A machine for rolling parallel beads on annular articles, said machine comprising a pair of inner rolls adapted to be moved into and out of operative coaxial positions within an annular object to be rolled, a pair of coaxial outer rolls adapted to cooperate with said inner rolls when in their operative positions, said outer rolls and said inner rolls when in their operative positions being capable of limited axial movement, means for causing relative transverse movement of the inner and the outer rolls to compress an article positioned therebetween, and means for moving said inner and outer rolls axially toward each other during the formation of the bead in timed relation to said relative transverse movement of the rolls.

13. A machine for rolling parallel beads on annular articles, said machine comprising a pair of inner rolls adapted to be moved into and. out of operative coaxial positions within an annular object to be rolled, a pair of coaxial outer rolls adapted to cooperate with said inner rolls when in their operative positions, said outer rolls and saidinner rolls when in their operative positions being capable of limited axial movement, means for causing relative transverse movement of the inner and the outer rolls to compress an article positioned therebetween, guide shoes arranged to engage the ends of the article when said inner I rolls are in their operative positions, and means to move said guide shoes toward each other to maintain contact with the edges of the article as the article is shortened due to the formation of the beads.

14. A machine for rolling parallel beads on annular articles, said machine comprising a pair of inner rolls adapted to be moved into and out of operative coaxial positions within an annular object to be rolled, a pair of coaxial outerrolls for causing relative transverse movement of the engage the ends of the article when said inner rolls are in their operative positions, means to move said guide shoes and saidinner and outer rolls longitudinally toward each other during the formation of the beads in timed relation to the relative transverse movement of the rohs, and means for driving the rolls.

15. A machine for rolling parallel beads on annular articles, said machine comprising a pair J of inner rolls adapted to be moved into and out of operative coaxial positions within an annular object to be rolled,-a pair of coaxial outer rolls adapted to cooperate with said inner 'rolls when in their operative positions, said inner rolls and said outer rolls being mounted for limited axial movement during the performance of a rolling operation, means for effecting relative transverse movement of the inner and outer rolls to form beads in an annular article positioned operation in timed relation to the relative transand verse movement of the inner and outer rolls, and means for rotating said rolls.

16. A rolling machine for simultaneously forming a pair of parallel beads in an annular sheet metal article, said machine comprising a frame, a pair of alined heads mounted in said frame for movement toward and fromeach other, a pair of coaxial shafts rotatably mounted one in each of said heads, a pair of inner rolls mounted one on each shaft on the adjacent ends thereof, means for moving said heads toward each other to bring the inner rolls into an operating position within the article to be rolled, a pair of complementary outer rolls coaxially mounted for limited longitudinal movement, means yieldingly urging said outer rolls away from each other, means arranged to act between said heads said outer rolls to move the outer rolls longitudinally with the inner rolls during the final portion of their axial approaching movements, means for moving saidouter rolls transversely toward said inner rolls in timed relation to the longitudinal movement of said inner rolls, and means for rotating said rolls.

1?. A rolling machine for simultaneously forming a pair of parallel beads in an annular sheet metal article, said machine comprising a frame, a pair of alined heads mounted in said frame for movement toward and from each other, a pair 'of coaxial shafts rotatably mounted one in each of said heads, a pair of inner rolls mounted one on each shaft on the adjacent ends thereof,- means for moving said heads toward each other to bring the rolls into an operating position within the article to be rolled, a pair of complementary outer rolls coaxia'lly mounted for limited longitudinal movement, means yieldingly urging said outer rolls away from each other, means arranged to act between said heads and said outer rolls to move the outer rolls longitudinally with the inner rolls during the final portion of their approaching movements, means for moving said outer rolls transversely toward said inner rolls in timed relation to the longitudinal movement of said inner rolls, pair of guide shoes movable transversely with said outer rolls and also mounted for limited movement longitudinally with respect to the axis of said rolls, means yieldingly acting to move said shoes longitudinally away from each other, and means acting between said heads and said shoes to move-said shoes toward each-other and into contact with the ends of an article as an incident to the longitudinal approaching movement of the inner rolls.

18. A rolling machine for operating upon annular articles, said machine comprising a pair of annularly grooved outer rolls, a frame rotatably supporting said rolls, a plurality of guide rollers disposed on opposite sides of said rolls with their axes parallel thereto, a pair of annularly ribbed inner rolls mounted for movement shoes longitudinally into and out of contact with the end edges of an article to be rolled, an arcuate rib on each guide shoe arranged to be moved into contact with the inner surface of the annular article being rolled, and means for moving said shoes into and out of operative. positions.

19. A rolling machine for forming an annular bead in an annular article, said machine comprising an annularly grooved roll, an annularly ribbed 'roll, means for rotating said rolls, means for effecting relative transverse approaching movement of said rolls to form a bead in the article, a pair of guide shoes mounted in fixed transverse position relatively to said grooved roll, said shoes having projections thereon extending longitudinally with respect to the axes of the rolls and arranged to engage the inner surface of an object being rolled, and means for efiecting relative longitudinal approaching movement of said shoes in timed relation to the relative transverse approaching movement of said rolls.

20. A rolling machine for forming an annular bead in an annular article, said machine comprising an annularly grooved roll, an annularly ribbed roll, means for rotating said rolls, means for effecting relative transverse movement of said guides for engaging the end edges of an article as it is rolled, and means for effecting relative longitudinal approaching movement of said guides during the rolling operation in timed relation to the relative transverse movement of the rolls.

21. A machine for rolling an annular head in an annular object, said machine comprising an annularly grooved roll and an annularly ribbed roll adapted to cooperate to form a bead on an article, means for rotating said rolls, means for causing relative transverse approaching movement of the two rolls to form a head in the, article, and guide means arranged to contact the surface of the article which corresponds to the surface engaged by the ribbed roll, the contact of said guide means with said surface being maintained during the entire time both rolls contact the article.

22. A machine for rolling an annular head in an annular object, said machine comprising an annularly grooved roll and an annularly ribbed roll adapted to cooperate to form a bead on an article, means for rotating said rolls,. guide rollers mounted on both'sidesof the grooved roll and on axes parallel thereto, said rollers being in fixed transverse relation to said grooved roll,

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guide means movable into the article being rolled to contact the inner surface of the article to hold it firmly against the guide rollers, means for causing relative transverse movement of the rolls to form a bead in the article, and means for maintaining said guide means in operative contact with the inner surface of the article as the J bead-forming operation progresses.

23. A machine for rolling an annular bead in an annular object, said machine comprising an annularly grooved roll and an annularly ribbed roll adapted to coopera:e to form a bead on an article, means for rotating said rolls, guide rollers mounted on both sides of the grooved roll and on axes parallel thereto, said rollers being in fixed transverse relation to said grooved roll and provlding with said grooved roll a three point contact for one peripheral surface of the article to be rolled, guide means movable into engagement with the other peripheral surface of the article to hold it firmly against said guide rollers, means for causing relative transverse movement of the rolls to form a bead, and means operable in timed relation to the relative transverse movement of the rolls to form a bead, and means operable in timed relation to the relative transverse move ment of the rolls to move said guide means into operative contact with the article prior to the contact of the ribbed roll with the article and to maintain such operative contact of the guide means with the article during the forming of the bead.

24. A machine for simultaneously rolling parallel beads on an annular article, said machine comprising a pair of rolls adapted to be moved into coaxial operative positions within an article to be rolled, a pair of coaxial outer rolls adapted to cooperate with said inner rolls to form beads on the article, means to cause relative transverse movement of said inner and outer rolls, said inner and outer rolls being mounted for limited axial movement during the rolling operation, and means for moving the rolls of one pair toward each other during the formation of the beads in timed relation to the relative transverse movement of the rolls.

25. A machine for simultaneously rolling parallel beads on an annular article, said machine comprising a pair of rolls adapted to be moved into coaxial operative positions within an article to be rolled, a pair of coaxial outer rolls adapted to cooperate with said inner rolls to form beads on the article, means to cause relative transverse movement of said inner and outer rolls, said inner and outer rolls being mounted for limited axial movement during the rolling operation, means for moving the rolls of one pair axially toward each other during the formation of the beads in timed relation to the relative transverse movement of the rolls, and means acting between said pair of rolls and the other pair of rolls to cause corresponding axial nmovements of said other pair of rolls.

26. A machine for rolling spaced parallel beads in annular articles, said machine comprising two pairs of complemental inner and outer rolls, means supporting said inner roll for movement into and out of the two ends of an article to be rolled, means supporting said outer rolls, one of said supporting means being arranged to permit tive transverse feeding movement of the rolls, and means. operable after shallow annular beads have been formed in an article to cause relative approaching movement of the rolls longitudinally of the article in timed relation to the relative transverse movement of the rolls.

27. A machine for rolling spaced parallel beads in an annular article, said machine comprising, in combination, a pair of inner rolls, a pair of complementary outer rolls, actuating means for effecting transverse approaching movement of the pairs of rolls, means mouniing one of the inner rolls and its complemental outer roll for limited movement longitudinally of the article being rolled, and means operable after said rolls have formed shallow beads in an article to move said last mentioned inner and outer rolls longitudinally toward the other two rolls in timed relatiffil to the relative transverse movement of the re s.

28. A machine for rolling spaced beads in an annular article, said machine comprising a pair of annularly ribbed inner rolls mounted for movement into and out of operative positions within an aricle to be rolled, a pair of annularly grooved outer rolls mounted for transverse movement into co-operative relation with said inner rolls'when said inner rolls are in their operative positions, means for rotating said rolls, and actuating means operable to move said inner rolls first into opera ive positions, then to move said outer rolls into operative relation, and thereafter to retract said outer rolls and said inner rolls in succession.

29. A machine for rolling spaced beads in an annular article, said machine comprising a pair of inner rolls mounted for bodily movement into and out of operative positions within an article to be rolled, a pair of complemenal outer rolls, means for rotating said rolls, means for effecting relative transverse movement of the inner and outer rolls, the two inner rolls and the two outer rolls being mounted for relative movement longitudinally of the article being rolled, and means operable after said rolls have formed shallow beads in the article to. cause such relative longitudinal movement in timed relation to the relative transverse movement of the rolls.

30. A machine for rolling spaced. beads in annular articles, said machine comprising a pair of inner rolls mounted for bodily movement through the ends of an annular article into operative positions therein, a pair of complemental outer rolls, all of said rolls being mounted for limited movement longitudinally of the article during a rolling operation, means for rotating said rolls, guide rollers for supporling the work mounted in fixed transverse relation to one pair of said rolls, means for causing relative transverse movement of the pairs of rolls, means operating to cause relative longitudinal movement of the two inner rolls and the two outer rolls in timed relation to the relative transverse movement of the pairs of rolls, and guide means arranged to engage the end edges of the article and to move longitudinally with the rolls during the formation of the beads.

31. The method of rolling spaced parallel beads in an annular object which consists in supporting the article for rotation, guiding the end edges of the article while rotating to determine its longitudinal position, forming shallow beads at spaced points in the periphery of the article while thus guided, and then increasing the depth of said beads with an incidental shortening of the length of the article while continuing to guide the end edges thereof.

32. The method of rolling a pair or parallel beads in an annular article with a machine having a pair of coaxial inner rolls'and' a pair of coaxial outer rolls, which consists in producing relative transverse movement of the pairs of rolls, into operative contact with the article, and effecting positive relative axial movement of the rolls of each pair toward each other in timed relation to the relative transverse movement of the inner and outer rolls. I I v 33. The method of rolling spaced parallel beads in an annular object which consists in maintaining two longitudinally spaced sets of complemental rolls in the same longitudinal relation to each other and applying the rolls to'the object while the rolls are maintained in the same longitudinal relation to form shallow beads entirely about the periphery of the object, applying the rolls, to the article to deepen thebeads, and positively moving the two sets of rollsendwise toward each other during such deepening of the beads intimed relation to the deepening of the beads.

34. The method of rolling a bead in an annular article which consists in applying guides to the opposite edges of the article, applying complemental inner and outer rolls to the article to form 1 the bead, and moving the guides toward each other in timed relation vto the relative transverse movement of the rolls to maintain contact with the edges of the article as it shortens due to the formation of the bead.

35. The method of rolling an annular bead in an article which consists in supporting the article for rotation, guiding the end edges of the article while rotating to determine its longitudinal position, and forming beads in the article with an incidental shortening of the article while maintaining the article against transverse displacement of its axis and continuing to guide the end edges thereof.

36. In a machine for forming in an annular article an annular protuberance the formation of which tends incidentally to foreshorten the article, the combination of an inner roll, an outer roll, means for effecting relative transverse movement of said rolls, cooperating means on said rolls for forming aprotuberance during relative transverse approaching movement of the rolls, means engaging the end edges of an article properly to position the same as it is rolled, and a mechanism for efiecting relative longitudinal approaching movement of said last-mentioned means during the rolling operation in timed relation to the relative transverse movement of the rolls and proportional to the foreshortening o! 

